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[ While Light isn't someone who shows up early for the sake of being early, he does show up on time. In spite of not having an official meeting time, he doesn't keep Near waiting. Once the conversation ends, Light leaves the cottage and takes the familiar trial down to the toy stoy.

Things are changing today, likely in more ways than one.

The knock comes. ]

[As Light is expected, all it takes is a glance up for him to move toward the door and get it unlocked for the man. He hadn't expected any random individual to stop by before now, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared. He locks it up again behind them to hopefully avoid any interruptions.]

Hello, Mr. Yagami. What can I do for you?

[At first it had felt odd to be saying his name again after all this time - conversing with him as though there wasn't and never had been any tension between them. Near had quickly adjusted his mindset, though he will never allow himself to get comfortable.]

No problems, I hope.

Eli.

[ Light greets him while coming inside. Whereas he's "Mr. Yagami", Light has referred to the other boy by first name since they met. He doesn't think anything odd about the difference; the man isn't exactly someone who invites others inside. He's polite enough and it's been easy to fall into stride while working with him, but that doesn't mean he's an open book. ]

I don't think of it as a problem so much as a change.

When I took the job, we both knew it was temporary, and in exchange, I agreed to help you find other people to employ.

[ Reaching into his pocket, Light removes a folded piece of paper bearing five names and numbers. ]

They're not monsters or witches, but they're good with their hands. I labeled them in the order I found them the most talented, but the final decision is up to you. They're all interested in the job. I can help out until you make the decision, but it's time that I begin pursuing a different career.

[Near takes the list and glances briefly over the names. He's wary of anyone recommended by Light, but he can't show that wariness. Eli Dagwood has no reason to believe the man is anything other than an upright citizen. At the very least, Light should be aware of his pickiness in regards to employees and not be too concerned if he chooses not to hire all of them. (Or any of them, depending on the results of looking into each one.)

Still, he's sure the murderer was thorough - choosing people he thinks will work well with Near's unsocial personality. It's a small list for that reason.]

Thank you. I imagine you put a lot of effort into this.

[Much like L, Light doesn't do anything half-assed.]

Do you already have other job options in mind?

Enough that I do think all five would be a good fit so it's a lot more about choosing who you like best.

It fits in with the other job I do have in mind. Back at home, I had plans for what I'd become when I finished college. I was going to join the police force. It's not an option here, not yet, so I'm going to start my own detective agency. It's the closest I can manage right now.

[ Near is right: Light is thorough. He also has no reason to choose the wrong people for this job. He has nothing against Eli. ]

[So Light is going to do what Near had decided against. As far as the naga was concerned, there hadn't seemed to be enough to warrant the need for his particular talents in this small town. He also had no one to back him up aside from L, and working alongside L in that scenario was not something he believed would work out particularly well. His mentor had also chosen not to pursue that path here - possibly for similar reasons.

But Light plans on doing it. For Near, this reads as a need for control.

He frowns in what he means to be a thoughtful manner. The lack of eyelids makes it difficult to get that across sometimes.]

That sounds like quite a big project. Have you seen much need for it here?

[ While Light does enjoy being the lead, his desire to switch careers really has more to do with his passion. Justice really does matter to him, even if other things are later twisted to fall under that umbrella. ]

More than enough. There are still a lot of big mysteries, but even on a smaller scale, I already have a few people asking for help. I'm not worried about having enough business.

[ Every world that has freedom will also have evil. Light will be a detective, not a cop, but he might still get the occasional criminal case. ]

But, there's also something else I wanted to talk with you about. When we met, you mentioned a bond. I know you're bonded with Linden, but if you're still interested, I think it would be a good idea for us to have a bond, too.

Oh?

[It's a request he'd only partially expected. It could have gone either way depending on Light's future plans. As soon as the man knew he shared a bond with L he would become a point of interest aside from merely a source of employment. It was a given that he'd want to keep some sort of correspondence between them but asking for a bond himself was going that one step beyond.

In hindsight, he shouldn't have even considered that this might not happen at all.]

That's quite the suggestion. Do you really want to have to put up with both of us so frequently?

[ The question earns a laugh. ]

I don't mind your company, but I have a hard time imagining the bond will make you any more likely to casually visit. It will change some things. We'll be connected so we'll share thoughts and feelings we'd have normally kept to ourselves. We'll have an even more invested reason to keep each other from being hurt.

But you know this. I'm sure of the offer. I've thought it through even before I decided to take the next step in my career.

I'm pleased to hear that your opinion of me is high enough that you've considered this for that long, though I'm also admittedly questioning your taste in companions. [He says this with an awkward smile that isn't quite friendly but is typical for him.]

Are you hoping to learn some great secret about this humble toymaker? I really am this boring, I promise.

[He turns to the back wall with a thoughtful 'hm', his tail curling into a spiral.] In any case, I accept. [Not much thought had been needed, apparently.]

In my experience, the men who are eager to let everybody know they don't have secrets are usually the ones who hold the most secrets. As long as you're not a criminal by night, they're not secrets I need to know.

[ If Light knew the connection, he would certainly change his mind, but there's been no hint of their relationship from a future he hasn't yet experienced. ]

But I'm glad you accept. When you're free, we can leave and make it official.

Hm. Fair enough.

[Near hadn't claimed not to have any secrets, of course. Many who knew them would still consider his personality a boring one. He isn't doing much to hide who he is in that regard.

Light-hearted banter remains something he doesn't particularly excel at.]

That soon? I don't suppose you have a bond quota and a deadline to reach.

When you're free. It doesn't have to be tonight. I'd like to get it done before too long so that I don't run the risks that come with being unbonded to a monster, but I wouldn't wait so late that it would have to be immediate. If you want more time to think it over, there's time for that too.

[ Light eyes the desk to see if Eli is busy working on anything in particular. ]

But since I'm quitting the store, I don't mind helping you wrap up tonight if you have some unfinished projects. What were you working on before I called?

Nothing that can't wait.

[There's nothing new to be crafted at the moment. He's currently dealing with his inventory and shuffling things around as needed. Basic daily tasks. A new bond, particularly this new bond, is more important than that.

He gestures toward a wall of shelves.] The top two rows are due for dusting.

[Not that he lets any surface of his store have the opportunity to get dusty.]

After that I see no problem in closing up for the day.

Most people would wait until there's actual dust before dusting.

[ It's not a refusal or a complaint, not really. They've worked together long enough now that Light feels comfortable enough to tease him. ]

I'll get the supplies.

[ Admittedly, Light has the advantage of height. ]

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